Scraper for river bottoms



1952 K. 5. BRAUN I-IIT AL 2,606,375

scRAPER FOR RIVER BOTTOMS Filed Jan. 25, 19,47 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 12, 1952 K. F. BRAUN ET AL 2,606,375

SCRAPER FOR RIVER BOTTOMS Filed Jan. 25, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIEL'I- Aug..12, 1952 K. F. BRAUN ET AL 2,506,375

- SCRAPEIR FOR RIVER BOTTOMS Filed Jan. 25, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 a A Q I wt J [rave/r1015:

A fia F [Beau/v 4704/ 650/965 7." 67 /557 7H5,

Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCRAPER'FOR RIVER BOTTOMS:

Karl F. Braun, Clairton, and George T. Griffiths, McKeesport, Pa., assignors to United States Steel Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 23, 1947, Serial No. 723,838

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improved construction of a floating dredge for deeping river bottoms that have become unduly filled with loose material such as mud and silt for rendering the depth of the water too shallow for effective maneuvering of vessels being docked.

In certain locations, for example, coal for coking is transported from the mines to the coke works in barges of from 800 to 900 tons capacity. These loaded barges, requiring a depth of about ten feet of water, are spotted along the concrete river wall where they are unloaded by coal hoists. Because of this it is necessary to maintain sufilcient depth in the harbor to permit free movement of the loaded barges at all times. Since the river bottom builds up with mud or silt, it becomes necessary to dredge or scrape the bottom, depending on the desired extent of material to be removed.

The present invention provides an improved dredge-type vessel and scraper mechanism which has for one of its objects the protection of the scraper mechanism from damage by accidental impacts against the river wall.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved scraper blade that minimizes spillage of material over the top of the blade thereby increasing effectiveness of the scraping operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for holding the scraper blade in a fixed position of elevation, so that it will not ride over hard areas or sink into soft spots in the river bottom.

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter described and as particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative of several of the number of ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of a dredge-type vessel embodying the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the showing of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of the right-hand portion of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the blade-supporting mechanism shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of a detail of construction. Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the illustrative embodiment of the present invention discloses a vessel, the same comprising a hull A, deck B and bottom C. The construction of the apparatus of the present invention is shown as embodied in a scow-type of hull which is maneuvered by an external motivating unit such as the steamboat D. The structural details of the hull form no part of the present invention, and accordingly are not shown beyond the forward transverse wall or bulkhead 8 on which there are mounted certain of the mounting instrumentalities for the scraper blade which form part of the apparatus of the invention.

In the fore-quarter part of the hull there is provided a U-shaped well I, having pairs of parallel arms 9 and I l as shown, the connecting portion of the said U-shaped well being indicated at [3.

In each of the well arms 9 and II, there is welded to the transverse wall or bulkhead 8 a double bracket, the same being indicated at l5 and I1, respectively. Each of these double brackets (i. e. l5 and I1) pivotally mounts a spaced pair of supporting arms [9, I9, and 2|, 2|, the pivotal connections between the pairs of the supporting arms and the respective brackets comprising pins 23, 23. Preferably, too, the brackets l5 and I! are removably mounted in holding guides 25, 25' which are welded, as at 21, to the bulkhead 8.

To the extending ends of the supporting arms l9, l9 and 21, 2|, there is pivotally connected a scraper blade 2a which has a curved scraping face 31 and a detachable cutting edge 33. These pivotal connections for the supporting arms [9, [9 to the scraper blade 29 are through pins 35, 35 which are removable. While not shown in the drawings, similar pin connections are provided for the opposite side of the blade for the other pair of supporting arms (i. e. 2| and 2|).

One of the pivotal connections 35' is at the top of the curved surface of the blade, the other connection being approximately mid-point laterally of the scraper blade. A reinforcing band 3"! extends around the substantially fiat forward surface of the scraper blade, being secured thereto by suitable connecting means, such as bolts (not shown). There is interposed between the reinforcing band 31 and the sides of the scraper blade a wear plate 39 (one at each side) for taking wear between the scraper blade and the mounting arms during operation of the blade. These wear plates 39 are permanently attached to the scraper blade in any suitable manner, as for example by welding. Correspending brackets 5| are welded to the scraper blade adjacent its top forward corners, serving as a pivotal mounting for each of a pair of rack columns 43 and 43", the pivotal mountings 4| being connected to the rack columns 43, 43' by similar connecting links, such as shown at 45, each of these links being tightly fitted into the bottom end of the rack columns, as shown in Figure 4.

It will be readily understood that all structural features are duplicated on each side of the apparatus hereinbeiore described.

The rack columns 43, 43' are provided with similar rack facings, such as shown. at 41, and similar end stops, such as shown at49. The rack facings 4i engage the teeth of rack pinions 50, 5|! that are mounted on stub shafts 5|, 5|. These stub shafts are mounted in turn on the upper ends of the bearing stands 55, 55 that are mount ed on the deck of the hull at an angle as shown in Figure 2. Theshafts 5|,"5I' also carry-sprocket 'wheelsiiil, Elflover which. pass sprocketdriving chains :59, 53. These chains. also. pass'over SDIOCRGTJSJB l 6 If mounted on a shaft 63, this shaft being suitablyzdriven by an engine 65 mounted on the deck -B inan enclosure or housing 67. The

sprockets 6|; 6|. are enclosed in guard housings B9, 69 on. the deck B; and guardsli, ll areprovided for chains 59, 59'.

It willbe seen from'the drawings that thebearentirely enclosed within-the bulb-Aland the mechanism in the Welland on the deck are protected by heavy sections of the hull from contact with any obstacles. -venes between the'raisedscraper blade 29 and The thick bow portion 75 interany other-obstruction, such as the river wall Ti adjacent towhich the scrapingoperations areto proceed. It will be observed iurtherthat'no part of the mechanism-extends beyond the lines of the deck A.

From the foregoing constructionand arrangement of elementsthe operation of the apparatus willbe readily understood, and need be referred to only briefly as follows,

For deepening operations on ariver bottom,

the vessel is towed by asteamboat D,--or other propulsion instrumentality, to-the desired site in the harbor and then is pushed against the river wall bythe'steamboat so that'the scraper blade "29 is parallel thereto. From soundings taken previously, the depth of the first cut is deter-- mined and the'scraper blade is set accordingly. 'This is done by startingthe engine 65, which .rotates .the shaft 63 by conventional power- .transmission instrumentalities. Rotation of the shaft 53 drives thesprockets .SI, 6|, ,thereby" actuating-sprocket chains 59, fitand driving sprockets 51, 51' on shafts 5|,.'5|' in the-bearing stands 55,-55', thus rotating the.shafts.5|,-5|'.

=Rotation-ofwthese shafts 5|, 5| 'rotates rack pinions 50, 50 .to lower the; rack "columns 43, 43',

which are held in alignment by the double acting :guidesleeveslS, 13'. :This, of course; lowers the scraper bladev 29 to operativeposition onthe river bottom, theparallel supportingiarmsi I9, .IS, 2|,

2| guiding the movement of the blade into operating position.

When the desired depth of the blade 29 is reached, the engine 65 is stopped, and the blade is held in a fixed and rigid position.

The steamboat D, which remains coupled to the stern of the hull A, then pulls the scraper away from the wall or harbor until'the scraped materials are deposited in the most adjacent deep portions of the river bottom. The steamboat then reverses and pushes the scraper back against the river wall. During this time the scraper blade is raised by the same mechanism that lowered it, reversely operated. The operations as described are repeated, with the mechanisms reversed. It will be observed that the curved surface 3| of the scraper blade serves to impart a rolling action to the materials bein moved and lessens the spillage over the top of the blade.

The double supporting arms l9, l9 and 2|, 2| will keep the scraper blade 29 of the unit A in the same verticalposition regardless of depth.

While we have shown and described certain specific embodiments of the present'invention, it

:will, be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art that we .do-not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the inven- .tion as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A vessel for scraping bottoms of rivers and harbors for removing 'deposits of mud and silt, which comprises a hull having a bow portion, a

stern portion, and substantially parallel sides, a

ative position at a predetermined depth below the hull, atleast two vertically parallel supporting arms extending longitudinally through eachof the longitudinal well branches, the said-scraper blade having a curved cutting surface and an approximately planar forward surface, pivotal connecting means for the upper supporting arm in each well at each top corner of the curved'surface of: the scraper blade, another of suchmeans for the lower supporting arm in each of said longitudinal wells beingapproximately at mid-position vertically-on the blade, a pair of 'rackcolumns pivotally connected to the-blade adapted to" shift the blade vertically between inoperative and 013-; erative positions, mounting means on the deck for the rack columns, a'rack face on each of-the rack columns, shaft instrumentalities: in the mounting means, sleeve guide means pivotally mounted on said shaft instrumentalities for-maintaining therack columns in alignmentduring :Sh-i fting of the rack :columnsandblade,atrack pinion onthe shaft instrumentalities engaging each of the rack faces, sprocket means onthe shaft meansfor operating the shaft meanspand drive mechanism forthesprocket-means.

2. A vessel for scraping river bottomsformemoving deposits of mud and silt, which comprises a hull having a bow portion, a stern'portion; and

substantially parallel sides a U-shapedw'ellextending vertically throughthe-hullcomposed of substantially parallel arms extending longitudinally in the hull substantially parallel to the sides of the hull and a transversely connecting portion for the arms extending parallel to the bow of the hull transversely of the hull, a bulkhead extending transversely through the hull, a scraper blade positioned when in inoperative position in the connecting portion of the Well and enclosed in the hull, supporting means for the blade extending longitudinally through the parallel arms of the well, the supporting means being pivotally secured to the bulkhead, mechanism for vertically lowering the blade from inoperative position in the well to a predetermined depth below the hull, said mechanism comprising pair of rack columns pivotally connected to the blade, mounting means on the deck for the rack columns, a rack face on each of the rack columns, shaft instrumentalities in the mounting means, sleeve guide means pivotally mounted on said shaft instrumentalities for maintaining the rack columns in alignment during shifting of the rack columns and blade, a rack pinion on the shaft instrumentalities engaging each of the rack faces, sprocket means on the shaft means for operating the shaft means, and drive mechanism for the sprocket means.

3. A vessel for scraping river bottoms for removing deposits of mud and silt, which comprises a hull having a bow portion, a stern portion, and substantially parallel sides, a U-shaped well extending vertically through the hull composed of substantially parallel branches extending longitudinally in the hull substantially parallel to the sides of the hull and a transversely connecting portion for the branches extending parallel to the bow of the hull transversely of the hull, a bulkhead extending transversely through the hull, a scraper blade positioned when in inoperative position in the connecting portion of the well and enclosed in the hull and when in operative position at a predetermined depth below the hull, a pair of parallel supporting arms extending longitudinally through each of the longitudinal well branches, the said scraper blade having a curved cutting surface and an approximately planar forward surface, pivotal connecting means for the upper supporting arm at each top corner of the curved surface of the scraper blade, another of such means for the lower supporting arm at the mid-portion vertically of the blade, mechanism for vertically shifting the blade between inoperative and operative positions, and actuating instrumentalities for the said mechanism.

4. An apparatus for scraping river bottoms and the like comprising a floating vessel having a hull with a bow portion and a stern portion, a vertical bulkhead extending transversely through said hull, an enclosed U-shaped well in said hull, said well including a pair of spaced parallel arm portions extending longitudinally through the hull from said bulkhead toward the bow and a transverse portion connecting said arms and extending transversely through said hull parallel to the bow, scraper means in said well, said scraper means including a scraper blade located when in raised, inoperative position in the transverse portion of said well, and supporting means for said blade extending longitudinally in the parallel arms of said well, said supporting means being pivotally connected to said bulkhead, and operating mechanism for raising and lowering said scraper means, said mechanism being within the hull and vertical projections of the hull.

KARL F. BRAUN. GEORGE T. GRIFFITHS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 204,387 Smith May 28, 1878 324,479 ODonnell Aug. 18, 1885 753,217 Allman Mar. 1, 1904 1,957,771 Gettelman May 8, 1934 2,001,803 Stephens May 21, 1935 2,160,761 Spadaro May 30, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,406 Great Britain Mar, 11, 1891 

